A little more than a year ago, the Dodgers saw an opportunity on the horizon.
Entering last offseason, the team knew two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani was entering a historic free agency. They knew decorated Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto was planning to come from Japan to the majors. And they knew another generational Japanese arm, Roki Sasaki, wouldn’t be far behind.
It was a chance, as some with the club have termed it, to “paint Japan blue” and enhance both the team’s roster talent and international brand.
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This week, the team is hoping it can turn the last part of that dream into reality.